Feta Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Sun-Dried Tomato and Kale
Posted: 07/13/2015
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These sun-dried tomato, kale and feta stuffed chicken breasts are impressive enough to serve to guests but easy enough to make for weeknight family dinners. You won’t believe how simple and delicious these are!
Usually when I develop a new recipe, I’m fairly hesitant about it. I wait to hear other people’s opinions, I ask Ben what he truly thinks of it, and I critique it carefully myself.
But then there are certain recipes that I’m absolutely confident I nailed. Even still, the recipe has to be really something I feel I knocked out of the park before I give myself a little compliment or let out a “yum” as I stuff my face.
This kale and feta stuffed chicken breasts recipe – hands down, is one of the best chicken recipes I’ve ever made. There may have been a “yum” or two escaping my mouth between bites of this flavorful chicken.
I’m excited to be partnering with Just BARE® Chicken again this year to bring you this recipe as well as a couple other blog posts throughout the remainder of the year. In the spirit of summer, for this recipe I used their new Organic Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Fillets. I always equate boneless skinless chicken breasts with summertime.
They’re lean and perfect for grilling — or for stuffing!
These feta stuffed chicken breasts may sound fancy since they’re stuffed but I assure you, just like all my other recipes, these are EASY. The hardest part is butterflying the chicken breasts, but even that is super forgiving. You want to cut them open like a book.
If you’re unfamiliar with the technique, make sure to watch the video in this post – it will help give you a visual. But like I said, super forgiving. Even if you accidentally cut the chicken breasts all the way through, don’t panic, you can just set the filling on top of one piece and then layer the other piece on top. Of course, leaving the two pieces attached is ideal because it forms a nice pocket for the filling.
The filling consists of sautéed onions, sun-dried tomatoes (they’re sweet, chewy, and add great color), baby kale (chopped kale would work too), and salty feta.
Tip: Can’t find, don’t want, or don’t like kale? Spinach works perfectly in this recipe too. Spinach and feta go so well together!
The filling is super flavorful and nutritious but it feels rich and decadent.
Here’s how I do it to keep things really simple. Butterfly all the chicken breasts, leaving them on the cutting board. Spray your baking dish lightly with nonstick cooking spray and set the first chicken breast in the pan. Fill it with about a quarter of the filling and then fold the top half of the chicken breast over the filling.
I repeat this process until they are all full of stuffing. That way you don’t have to transport them to the pan after you stuff them — if you do that, you’ll lose a lot of the filling trying to move them.
Once the chicken breasts are all stuffed and in the pan, sprinkle your panko bread crumb mixture over the top and bake! It’s SO easy. And yet so impressive.
These stuffed chicken breasts are perfect for company because you can prep them ahead, and while they bake you can manage the rest of your dinner (or just sip wine with your guests!). They’re also perfect for weeknight meals because they’re that easy to make and so good that you won’t want to save them only for special occasions.
Stuffed chicken is always such a fun and fancy dish, like these apple gouda stuffed chicken breasts that are so silly easy but look fancy and taste even better, or this hasselback chicken with spinach and artichokes that uses a slightly different stuffing technique.
I look forward to trying a few of my friends’ recipes like Bacon Cheddar Ranch Stuffed Chicken Breast from Wine and Glue, Enchilada Stuffed Chicken Skillet from The Cookie Rookie, or Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Chicken Breasts from Spend with Pennies. Which one would you try first?
I’m ready to dig in….are you?
If you’re looking for MORE great chicken recipes, here’s what I’ve made with Just BARE in the past: Chicken “Burgers” with Leeks, Gouda and Bacon, Chicken Caesar Tenders, Slow Cooker Moroccan Chicken Thighs with Butternut Squash, and Chicken with Blueberry Chipotle Sauce.
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
servings
These sun dried tomato, kale, and feta Stuffed chicken breasts are impressive enough to serve to guests but easy enough to make for weeknight family dinners. You won’t believe how simple and delicious these are!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 medium yellow onion, finely chopped (about 1/3 cup)
- 1 clove garlic, finely minced
- 1 1/2 cups loosely packed baby kale
- 1/2 cup finely diced sun-dried tomatoes (I used the kind packed in olive oil)
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 teaspoons finely minced fresh oregano (or 1 teaspoon dried)
- 4 pieces (about 2 to 2.5 pounds) Just BARE [Organic Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Fillets]
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until softened, 3-4 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about one minute. Reduce heat to medium low and add kale and stir until wilted, about 2-3 minutes.
- Transfer to a bowl to cool, then add the sun-dried tomatoes and feta and season with salt and pepper.
- Melt the butter in the same frying pan over medium-low heat, turn off the heat and add panko breadcrumbs and oregano. Toss to combine all ingredients.
- Spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Split each chicken breast across but not through and open like a book (be careful, you can easily cut yourself doing this!). This is known as butterflying. Place in baking dish and stuff with sun-dried tomato mixture, letting the stuffing overflow at the edges if needed.
- Top with the panko breadcrumb mixture. Bake until the juices run clear and internal temperature registers at 165°F, about 25-35 minutes.
Nutrition Information
Serving: 18 oz. chicken breast, Calories: 325kcal, Carbohydrates: 28g, Protein: 18g, Fat: 16g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 57mg, Sodium: 486mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 6g
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
Post updated with new photos and video 1/8/2018.
For fun, here are a couple of the old photos!
Julie says
Excellent. I substituted red bell pepper for the tomatoes but this was a great use of fresh kale from the garden. Super moist and tasty
Rachel Gurk says
Oh I love the idea of red bell peppers – yummmy!
Billie says
Last night I made this recipe for the 4th time in just a few weeks. I had lacinto kale in the refrigerator but no baby kale or spinach. It took the lacinto kale a little longer to wilt down but the finished dish was just as good. This is now one of my husband’s favorite recipes.
Rachel Gurk says
I’m so happy to hear this recipe has become a favorite! Thanks for leaving a comment!
Billie says
We love this recipe. It has great flavor and while it’s in the oven there’s time to make a vegetable and salad. I’ve now made it 3 times in less than 3 weeks. It’s one of my husband’s favorites. I’ve used spinach instead of kale each time I made it because I didn’t have kale. The spinach cooks very fast, probably only a minute.
Rachel Gurk says
So happy to hear it! Thanks for leaving a review!
Billie says
Great flavors. We loved the combinations of sun-dried tomatoes, feta and greens in the stuffing. I substituted baby spinach for baby kale since our store didn’t have any kale when I shopped. I also like that it is in the oven while I prepared the rest of the meal and doesn’t need last minute attention. Just take it out when done and serveThis recipe is definitely a keeper.
Rachel Gurk says
So glad you liked this recipe! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!
Valerie says
This looks so delicious! What do you think is the best way to prep ahead of time?
Rachel Gurk says
I would stuff them and keep them covered in the fridge and then just put the breading on prior to baking. Hope that helps!
Carolyn says
This sounds incredible!
Megan @ Megunprocessed says
Sun dried tomatoes and kale sound like a perfect combo!!
Jessica says
I plan on making this tonight! Should I cover the baking dish while its in the oven or should I leave it uncovered?
Rachel Gurk says
Uncovered!
Allison says
If I make this without the panko will it be okay?
Rachel Gurk says
Yep!
Joanie @ Zagleft says
Such great flavors in the filling, I know my family would love these!